Earlyface

Here at Natural Living Ideas, we’ve recently been on a bit of a water kick. In fact, the advice to “drink more water” seems to find it’s way into just about every list of ways to improve your health. Of course, there’s a very good reason for it. Water is the ‘magic diet supplement’ to cure all ills – or at least to help cure them all. Sadly, most people don’t drink enough of it (here’s why that’s dangerous) and usually it’s because of the taste (or lack there of).

Recently, while exploring ways to make water more exciting, we discovered a nifty little gadget called the Aqua Zinger. Half juicer and half water bottle, the Zinger was made with one purpose in mind: to flavor your drinking water using fresh fruit and herbs without filling your mouth with pulp and seeds.

The following are six of my favorite recipes that I’ve experimented with and enjoyed since adopting my new Zinger.  Enjoy!

Kiwi Strawberry Fizz
It helps if your berries are very ripe for this one. Chop them small, fill up the fruit compartment, close then and add fizzy water. Make sure the fruit compartment and lid are secured tightly then turn the bottle upside down a few times. (Don’t shake it too hard. It will spray out the top when you open the straw.) Each time you finish the water, add more and let it sit for a while to get more berry-kiwi goodness.

I also enjoy this one with a sprinkle of Stevia or Monk Fruit added to the mix when I’m craving something sweet. You can also add fresh mint to give this combo a little extra zip!

Cranberry Citrus Cocktail
Add slices of any combination of orange, grapefruit, lemon and lime (whatever citrus fruits you may have lying around) to the fruit compartment. Add a splash of 100% unsweetened cranberry juice then fill with soda water or plain filtered water. This combination is very refreshing and energizing. The cranberry juice is great for flushing out your urinary tract and the citrus fruits are excellent for a quick boost to your metabolism.

I prefer this one unsweetened. However, it is very sour and you may need to sweeten it up a smidgen to make it palatable.

Cucumber Double-Melon
Ripe honeydew and cantaloupe make a perfect compliment to cucumber slices. A classic flavor combination that can’t go wrong! (Unless you dislike cucumbers and melons, that is…) Just add cold filtered water or fizzy water, let it sit for a few minutes to allow the fruit to steep, then sip and enjoy!

Cucumber, Lime & Mint
Mix a little fresh mint and lime with your cucumber slices for a cool, refreshing treat that’s just like being at the spa! You can also add a little extra mint and a sprinkling of natural sweetener like Stevia or Monk Fruit to make this concoction taste like liquid candy.

Pineapple, Orange & Mango
If you’ve ever tried one of those sugary tropical juice drinks they sell at most grocery stores, then you probably already know how good these three fruits taste together. But who really wants to drink all of that added sugar? If you like them, you can also add a slice or two of banana to the mix. Pour in the water and add a natural sweetener of your choice for a truly sweet fruity treat!

Remember To Save Your Fruit!
One of the best things about using this handy little gadget is that when you’re finished, all of the fruit is still packed up nice and neat in the bottom of the container. Take a fork to it and enjoy a sweet snack. Scoop it into a jar of water and leave it in the refrigerator overnight to create even more infused water. Or you can even pop the mashed fruit into ice cube trays and freeze it to make colorful fruity ice cubes that not only make water taste better as they melt, but also look really pretty too!